The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - Educational System Shootout

	Systems Configured: 7/19/2002 directly from Apple & Dells' EDUCATIONAL online stores. Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.
Attention Educational Computer Decision-Makers! Visit websites by John Droz and Kern Trembath for more information.

$1,000
(Institutional Purchase)

$1,200
(Institutional Purchase)

Company

Apple

Dell

Apple

Dell

eMac CD-RW
(Education Pricing)

Dimension 4500
(Education Pricing)

eMac Combo Drive
(Education Pricing)

Dimension 4500
(Education Pricing)

Design/ Styling

White Polycarbonate Shell
all-in-one design

Black/Silver Tower

White Polycarbonate Shell
all-in-one design

Black/Silver Tower

Weight:
CPU + Display + Speakers

50 lbs. total

60 lbs. total

50 lbs. total

60 lbs. total

Component Access?

access latch for RAM & wireless card ports

access latch for total component access

access latch for RAM & wireless card ports

"thumbscrew" access for all component access

(open debate on whether school computers should be wide-open for easy upgrades or semi-sealed to prevent student tampering)

Deskspace Used:
CPU + Display + Speakers

15.8" w x 17.1" d

270 sq. inches

appx. 26" w x 17.1" d
430 sq. inches

15.8" w x 17.1" d

270 sq. inches

appx. 26" w x 17.1" d
430 sq. inches

Noise Volume:

Moderate
(ultraquiet fan/
convection cooling)

Loud
(cooling fan)

Moderate
(ultraquiet fan/
convection cooling)

Loud
(cooling fan)

Energy Use:
Energy Notes

appx. 170 Watts total
appx. $37 / year

appx. 350 Watts total
appx. $76 / year

appx. 170 Watts total
appx. $37 / year

appx. 350 Watts total
appx. $76 / year

Processor:
Rating Notes

1.1 GHz P4
700 MHz
PowerPC G4 w/AltiVec

1.8 GHz P4
1.8 GHz
Pentium 4

1.1 GHz P4
700 MHz
PowerPC G4 w/AltiVec

1.8 GHz P4
1.8 GHz
Pentium 4

L1 Cache:

64k

L2 Cache:

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

Memory Type:

SDRAM PC100

DDR-DRAM PC2100

SDRAM PC100

DDR-DRAM PC2100

Frontside Bus:

100 MHz bus

400 MHz bus

100 MHz bus

400 MHz bus

Memory Amount:

128 MB

128MB

128 MB

256 MB

Max RAM:

1.0 GB
(2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

40 GB

20 GB

40 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Hard Drive Speed:

5400 rpm

7200 rpm

5400 rpm

7200 rpm

CD-Rom:

32x CD

48x CD

32x CD

40x CD

CD-RW:

24x10x CD-RW

12x8x CD-RW

32x10x CD-RW

DVD-Rom:

8x DVD

12x DVD

DVD-/+RW:

Floppy Drive:

No*

Yes*

No*

Yes*

Zip Drive:

.*(open debate on whether floppy drives are still useful for outdated school media or are a liability since they allow one more way to infect computers with viruses, etc.)

*(open debate on whether floppy drives are still useful for outdated school media or are a liability since they allow one more way to infect computers with viruses, etc.)

PCI/AGP Slots:
Available / Total

0 / 1

1 / 4

0 / 1

2 / 4

Internal Bays:
Available / Total

0 / 1

Other Bays:
Available / Total

0 / 1

1 / 3

0 / 1

1 / 3

Mouse Included:

USB optical mouse

2-button
scrollwheel mouse

USB optical mouse

2-button
scrollwheel mouse

(open debate on whether a single-button mouse is better for children since it's easier to use, vs. 2-button wheel mouse being better for older students, etc. Slight edge goes to 2-button mouse here)

USB Ports:
(more = better;
on front/keyboard = better)

3 on CPU + 2 on keyboard
= 5 total
3 available

4 on CPU back
= 4 total
4 available

3 on CPU + 2 on keyboard
= 5 total
3 available

4 on CPU back
= 4 total
4 available

Firewire Ports:

2 On-board ports

Available Legacy Ports:

1 serial, 1 parallel

Graphics Card:

nVIDIA GeForce2 MX

ATI Rage Ultra

nVIDIA GeForce2 MX

ATI Rage Ultra

Video RAM:

32 MB DDR

32 MB

32 MB DDR

32 MB

Video Out:

VGA

2nd Monitor Support?

Video Mirroring

Display:

17" Flat-Screen CRT
(16" viewable)

Max. Resolution Support:

1280x960

1600x1200

1280x960

1600x1200

Audio In:

Built-in microphone
Line-in

Line-in

Built-in microphone
Line-in

Line-in

Audio Out:

Line-out
(headphones/
external speakers)
Digital audio-ready

Line-out (headphones)
Line-out (speakers)
Digital audio-ready

Line-out
(headphones/external speakers)
Digital Audio-ready

Line-out (headphones)
Line-out (speakers)
Digital audio-ready

Speakers:

Integrated stereo
Harmon Kardon speakers

10/100 Base-T Ethernet:

Yes (integrated)

Yes (via PCI)

Yes (integrated)

Yes (via PCI)

56k Modem:

Yes

802.11b Wireless Ready?

802.11b ready
(card is extra)

802.11b Integrated Antennae?

Yes

Included OS:

Mac OS X 10.2;
Mac OS 9.2;
BSD Unix;
Apache Web Server

Windows XP
Professional Edition

Mac OS X 10.2;
Mac OS 9.2;
BSD Unix;
Apache Web Server

Windows XP
Professional Edition

Windows/DOS Support:

Windows 95/98/ME/ 2000/XP
(via Virtual PC)

Windows 95/98/ 2000/NT/XP

(Native)

Windows 95/98/ME/ 2000/XP
(via Virtual PC)

Windows 95/98/ 2000/NT/XP

(Native)

Mac OS Support:

Native
(Mac OS 8, 9, X)

Via Basilisk
(OS 8 only)

Native
(Mac OS 8, 9, X)

Via Basilisk
(OS 8 only)

Linux OS Support:

Native (Various flavors)

Unix OS Support:

Native (Various flavors)

Word Processor Included:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Word compatible)

Save-as PDF Support:

Native (any file)

Spreadsheet Included:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Excel compatible)

Presentation Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

Database Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

Drawing/Painting Program Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

Planning/Project Software Included:

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2
Netscape 4.7

Internet Explorer 6

Internet Explorer 5.2
Netscape 4.7

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail
Outlook Express 5

Outlook Express 6

OS X Mail
Outlook Express 5

Outlook Express 6

Media Player Included:

Quicktime 6
DVD Player
Media Player 7 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Media Player 8
DVD Player
Quicktime 6 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Quicktime 6
DVD Player
Media Player 7 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Media Player 8
DVD Player
Quicktime 6 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Financial Software Included:

Reference Software Included:

World Book
Mac OS X Edition

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 1.1

Image Expert

iPhoto 1.1

Image Expert

Digital Video Editing:

iMovie 2

MovieMaker 2

iMovie 2

MovieMaker 2

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0

Games Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional Software Included

PCalc, Acrobat Reader, FAXstf., Asstd. system software

Acrobat Reader, Asstd. system software,

PCalc, Acrobat Reader, FAXstf., Asstd. system software

Acrobat Reader, Asstd. system software,

Virus Susceptibility/
Security Issues

45 known viruses
Built-in firewall

50,000+ known viruses
Built-in firewall
(see FBI warning)
90 day Norton AntiVirus

45 known viruses
Built-in firewall

50,000+ known viruses
Built-in firewall
(see FBI warning)
90-day Norton AntiVirus

Warranty:

1 yr. Ltd. Warranty

3 yr. Ltd. Warranty

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

Price as configured:
(Includes cost of all add-ons, rebates, etc.)

$999

$996

$1,218

$1,215

The information above is as accurate as I could make it based on a reasonable time studying the respective companies' Web sites. There is no guarantee that these configurations, prices, and features are the best that one could come up with; assorted bundles, free internet access, free extra memory, and so on can most likely be found for any of the above systems. The point of this chart is to demonstrate that Apple's lineup holds its own against any brand-name computer, even in areas in which it has traditionally had resistance. In short, do not base your purchasing decisions solely on this chart or information. Neither I, nor The Mac Observer will be held responsible or liable for any purchase decisions you make based on this presentation.

Charles Gaba started the AAPLTalk System Shootouts at AAPLTalk.com, and has brought them to TMO. Charles is the creative talent behind Brainwrap Web Design.

AAPLTalk System Shootouts Archives

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